Mumbai

Arrive Mumbai from your home country by midnight. Garland welcome, assistance and transfer to hotel. Overnight stay in Hotel

Mumbai – Calicut

After an early breakfast transfer to airport to board flight to Calicut at 08.40 – 11.40 hrs. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel located on the banks of the Chaliyar River. Afternoon make a short drive to Beypore, a small coastal town known for centuries as a shipbuilding centre and still famous for its country crafts called "Uru" which are built by the traditional shipbuilders known as Khalasis. This art is a mnemonic tradition of almost 1500 yrs old. Beypore is still a favourite destination among the Arabs shopping for the large boats. Explore the ship yard and interact with the workers. Overnight at Hotel

Calicut

After breakfast we drive to nearby Tile Factory where indigenous craft and techniques put to profession. The wide ranges of products depict artistic expressions too. Back to hotel for lunch and further drive to fisherman village to explore and interact with the local fishermen. Evening visit to the Kalari Training centre - the form of Martial Arts of Malabar forerunner of all Martial Arts. Overnight at Hotel.

Calicut – Wayanad 70 Kms

After breakfast drive to Wayanad, the panoramic hill of malabar in the northern Kerala, situated above the sea level ranges between 700 meters to 2100 meters, is a homeland of various tribal communities. They can be prominently classified into Paniyas /Adiyas /Kattunayakans / Kurichiyans / Uraali Kurumas check into the hotel and further visit to the Tribal community with a knowledgeable local guide to explore their life style.

The Paniyas Tribal

A vast majority of tribes in Kerala state hail from the Paniya tribal sect. Paniyas inhabit in the regions of Wayanad and the neighboring parts of Kannur and Malappuram.

As bond labourers, the Paniyas were once sold along with plantations by the landlords. They were also employed as professional coffee thieves by higher castes. The name 'Paniyaan' means 'worker' as they were supposed to have been the workers of non - tribes. Monogamy appears to be the general rule among the Paniyas. In marriage bride price is practiced like many other tribal communities. Widow remarriage is allowed. They do not practice pre-puberty marriage. They have only a crude idea of religion. Their major deity is called 'Kali'. They also worship Banyan tree. They hesitate to cut such trees and if anyone attempts to cut such trees, they fall sick.

Due to the various tribal welfare programmes by the government, a change has set in the lives of Paniyas.

The Adiyas

The Adiyas are known as 'Ravulayar' traditionally. The Adiya, like the Paniya, is one of the slave sects in Kerala. In the nuclear Adiya tribal family the husband is the head of the house. Bride price is given to the parents of the bride by the groom. Divorce, widow marriage etc., are permitted. Polygamy is also practiced.

No punitive measure (like ostracizing of the sex offender, as one can see among Kurichias) is prevalent among the Adiyas for sex offences. Even if their woman commits such offences they are allowed to undergo purificatory ceremony known as 'Kalachu Veypu' to join their community back.

The Kattunayakan

The Kattunayakan community is found in Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. They are also called Cholanaickan, in the interior forests of Nilambur area of Malappuram, and Pathinaickans, in the plains of Malappuram districts.

As their name denote, the Kattunayakan were the kings of the jungle regions engaged in the collection and gathering of forest produces. They are known as Ten Kurumar since they collect honey from the forest. They have all the physical features of a hill tribe. Their language is a mixture of all Dravidian languages. They worship animals, birds, trees, rock hillocks and snakes. They are firm believers in black magic and sorcery. They also worship their ancestors, along with worshipping Hindu deities.

The Kurichiyans

The Kurichiyans are an agricultural tribal community. Up to some decades ago unsociability had been fairly and widely practiced by these tribals. They have clean food habits and keep their houses, premises and dress always clean. They are matrilineal and live in joint families, under the control of their chieftain called 'Pittan'. The members of the extended family work together and put their earnings in the same purse. The Kurichiyans prefer cross-cousin marriage to any other marriage alliances. They do not practice polyandry.

Their social control mechanism was most efficient, offenders being excommunicated. Many of the excommunicated Kurichians are now educationally and economically better compared to the traditional Kurichians.

The Uraali Kurumas

Uralikuruma, the most versatile and colourful tribal people, is one of the rarest artisan tribes in Kerala. They are mostly found in the Wayan region. Uralikuruma is one of the three subdivisions of 'Kurumba' and the two others being 'Mulla' & ' Jen Kuruma' tribals.

Uralikurumas herald themselves as the followers of ancient 'Kurumba' or 'Pallava', which were once so powerful through southern India. Uralikurumas are also called Bet Kurumas. While Bet Kurumas, found now in the Mysore district of Karnataka speaks Kannada, these tribals in Wayanad speak a mixture of Kanada and Malayalam languages. Amongst the Kuruma tribals in Wayanad The Mulla Kurumas consider themselves superior to the other Kuruma sects.

The Uralikurumas choose their life partners from their tribe itself. When a person dies they believe that the soul of the good become gods and that of the bad become devils. They worship deities as 'Bettu Chikkamma' and 'Bamadu' and also demons and ancestral spirits.

They play the flute and drum during their festival occasions festivals. The "Uch-alkali" is played in the month of February. Some men dance while some beat the drums and read the flute. An old man in the group performs rites to their deity 'Bettu Chikkamma'. Womans are not allowed to participate in theses ceremonies. They are also skilled potters with their women folk chiefly involved in this task. Baskets and mats of various types with reeds and bamboo and hand made pots are manufactured by them. But it has been seen that the younger generation now prefer working for non -tribal landlords in plantation and paddy fields for an earning without much discomfort.

Wayanad

The day free to explore the nearby tribal village and their way of living Overnight at Hotel

Wayanad

The day free to explore the tribal village. Overnight at Hotel

Wayanad – Kannur

After breakfast drive to Kannur (about 100kms/04hrs), a land with a resonant past. Myths and legends abound. Arrive and check into the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax or visit to the local village by bullock cart.

Kannur

Early morning drive to Muthappan Temple located on the banks of Valapattinam River to view the traditional ritual dance form of Kerala – the Theyyam. When the monsoon recedes, when the blue skies are clear and skies are clear of dark clouds, and the days hard work is done, drums resound from the villages, far and near. This is the season of Theyyam.

Theyyam is the old ritual dance North Kerala and Kannur can be named as the birthplace of Theyyam. It's a religion based ritual dance. Men get into colourful exotic dresses, paint themselves as Gods, Goddesses, devils, evil sprits and even diseases, and dance to drums and music throughout the night. There are about four hundred different kinds of Theyyams. Theyyam offers a fascinating and novel experience for your eyes. The Theyyam performance has an aura of divine splendour as its accompanied by rituals & other devotional hymns.

Shri Muthappan Temple at Parassinikkadavu - steeped in legend, its all hallowed spot. Open to all, this is the only place where one can see Theyyam performed all around the year.

Afternoon visit to the Payyambalam beach, which is, long and clean. Flat laterite cliffs just into the sea at one end. Picturesque and incredibly beautiful. The well laid out gardens and the massive landscaped sculpture of mother & child greet the visitor to Payyambalam. The beach is only walking distance from Fort St. Angelo. O/n Hotel.

Kannur

The day free to explore Anjarakkandy this has got the biggest Cinnamon estate in Asia. Spices were items of special value in the ancient and medieval Western World. Important spices like black pepper, ginger, turmeric and cinnamon grew in profusion in Kannur. Also visit to the cotton handlooms weaving centre. Rest of the day free to relax. Overnight stay ar Hotel.

Kannur – Calicut – Mumbai

After breakfast drive to Calicut (about 95kms/03hrs) to board flight to Mumbai at 15.40 – 17.20hrs. Upon arrival, transfer to a hotel for wash and change. Late night transfer to int’l airport to board flight to your home country.

Note: The visit to Cholanaykan Tribal’s will be only provided only if we get the permission from the Govt. of Kerala.